National snowboarder Choi Gaon on Feb. 12 poses with her gold medal in the women's halfpipe at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics held at Livigno Snow Park in Livigno, Italy. (Yonhap News)

By Koh Hyunjeong

Snowboarder Choi Gaon on Feb. 12 earned Korea's first gold medal in a snow sport at a Winter Olympics.

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee on Feb. 13 said Choi the previous day posted a winning score of 90.25 in the women's halfpipe to defeat two-time defending Olympic champion Chloe Kim of the U.S. at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics held at Livigno Snow Park in Livigno, Italy.

In her first attempt, Choi crashed hard amid heavy snow and required medical assistance. She fell again in her second but dramatically came back to win in her third.

Calling Choi's performance "Brutal crash turned shocking upset," NBC of the U.S. said, "An unexpected final run from South Korea's Choi Gaon, who had earlier fallen during her first run and was nearly out of the competition, shocked the snowboarding world."

Also in snowboarding, Team Korea members Kim Sangkyum won the silver in the men's parallel giant slalom and Yu Seungeun the bronze in the women's big air.

In short track, Rim Jongun earned the bronze in the men's 1,000 m.

hjkoh@korea.kr